‘Mad Men’ Finale Explained? Matthew Weiner Shares His Thoughts

The Mad Men finale was the most watched episode in its eight year life span. It was widely praised by critics and fans, however, many were unsure what exactly transpired in the final few shots of the episode.

The creator of the series, Matthew Weiner, explained exactly what took place. Weiner sat down with novelist A.M. Homes on Wednesday at the New York Public Library.

“I can’t believe this happened, and I’m so grateful we got to do it and we were allowed to end it how and when we wanted to. I wanted it to feel that there was a vision and a point to the entire thing. I’m so pleased that people enjoyed it and seemed to enjoy it exactly as it was intended. You can’t get a 100 percent approval rating, or you’ve done something dumb.”

Mad Men has been described as a visual novel due to its rich storytelling, vivid cinematography and of course characters. The Mad Men finale followed up on the pillars it has built throughout the years. In Weiner’s perspective, the Mad Men finale carried on the theme of self-identity. This theme was especially evident in the scene where Don embraced a stranger at a retreat.

“I hope the audience would feel either that he was embracing a part of himself, or maybe them, and that they were heard. I don’t want to put it into words more than that. I liked the idea where he’d come to this place, and it’d be about other people and a moment of recognition. I don’t think I can put it into words, but I knew.”

Finally, the Mad Men finale provided an ambiguous ending with a smiling Don Draper following that iconic Coca-Cola advertisement. Weiner said, “In the abstract, I did think, why not end this show with the greatest commercial ever made? In terms of what it means to people and everything, I am not ambiguity for ambiguity’s sake.”

“I did hear rumblings of people talking about the ad being corny. It’s a little bit disturbing to me, that cynicism. I’m not saying advertising’s not corny, but I’m saying that the people who find that ad corny, they’re probably experiencing a lot of life that way, and they’re missing out on something.”

With that ended one of the finest series in modern television drama. The Mad Men finale finally expounded upon the series’ theme and new beginnings for each of its wonderfully crafted characters.

[Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images]